Two hundred and ninety-three new cases of jaundice have been confirmed in the last four days pushing the total number of people affected in the town since May 2014 to 2,308, director of public health K C Das said.

While Satrughan Pradhan, a 54-year-old man died on December 27, Jamini Panda, a 25-year-old woman died two days later, he said.

A poor drainage system and damaged water supply pipelines appeared to be the main reason for jaundice outbreak in the town, which has a population of nearly 200,000.

Due to leakage in the rusty water supply pipelines drain water seeped through and contaminated the drinking water.